Since the dawning of the pandemic, an increasing number of people have begun working from home. While this has many benefits, it can prove to be a bit difficult in some situations. One of these situations involves having important conversations with a supervisor, such as requesting a promotion or a raise. If you are a remote worker that is asking for a raise or promotion, here are four tips for making it a successful ask.
1. Spend Time Evaluating Your Work
The first step of any attempt to request a pay increase or promotion involves building your argument and talking points. This can only be done by taking some time to carefully evaluate your work. After all, you likely won’t be able to convince your boss if you are unable to convince yourself.
Take some time to jot down your achievements if you haven’t already been tracking them. What have you done that has helped the company excel? Are there quantitative results that can help you measure your impact? Consider your prior performance evaluations as well as informal things such as colleagues going to you for help. From this information, you should be able to build an argument of bullet points.
2. Do Your Research
As with many things in life, information is key when it comes to requesting a raise. Thus, you want to make sure to conduct research and do your due diligence in preparing for a conversation. A big part of this process involves understanding the organization’s overarching policies when it comes to how raises and promotions are dealt with. This includes the timeline, which is typically around performance evaluation time.
Additionally, if you are asking for a raise, you will want to do some research into what similar people with your role and experience are making in your organization (if possible) and your area. This will give you important information to help justify your request.
3. Opt for a Video Call
Important conversations should occur in a personal setting; however, this can be difficult when working from home. This is not something you want to have over e-mail or over the phone. Instead, schedule a video call on Zoom or Google Meet in order to be able to approach the conversation. This is a time when you want to be able to see the other person. This can help you give a more convincing argument while better judging your boss’ reaction and body language.
Be sure to schedule the meeting ahead of time in order to give your boss time to prepare. Also, it can help to consider your boss’ working style. If they are not a morning person, you may want an early afternoon meeting. However, if they seem to often be a little cranky or overwhelmed in the afternoons, scheduling the video call first thing in the morning may be your best bet for getting a more favorable response.
4. Practice Ahead of Time
You never want to go into an important meeting without being prepared, and this is particularly important for one when you are asking for a raise or promotion. Fortunately, by practicing, you will be able to feel more confident about the actual meeting. While there are many ways that you can practice, one of my personal favourites involves recording and critiquing yourself.
Simply take out your phone and record yourself giving your pitch for a raise or promotion. Next, play it back a few times and make some notes. Pay close attention to your choice of words, your tone, and the pace of your voice. Are you speaking too fast? Could you be more specific in your argument? Additionally, pay attention to your body language. Is there anything that makes you look nervous? What should you do instead? Analyzing your pitch this way will help you have a far more productive meeting.
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